Lib Dems take to horseback to protect greenfields

9.36.03pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 26th Apr 2005

Liberal Democrats Carol Boulton and Chris Huhne (pictured) took to a novel form of transport today to whip up support for their campaign against building on green field sites.

Cllr Boulton, who is standing in the new West End and Hedge End Grange Park division for the county council, mounted her horse Porcellus to emphasise the importance of protecting greenfields in the area.

Cllr Boulton and Eastleigh parliamentary candidate Chris Huhne met voters visiting Itchen Valley Country Park in Allington Lane. Porcellus is lucky for Cllr Boulton as he was born the same day as her first election to the borough council.

Cllr Boulton said that it was a Lib Dem priority to scrap the Tory county council's plans for a 4,000 house major development area on Allington Lane. "I will resist these dreadful plans tooth and nail" said Cllr Boulton.

Chris Huhne said that the green fields between West End, Hedge End, Fair Oak, Bishopstoke and Eastleigh ensured that the area did not become just another anonymous part of Solent City.

"These green fields are not just an amenity in their own right, but are also what makes our local communities distinct. I note that the Conservative candidate has not yet condemned the Tory county council's plans, so we must assume he agrees with them" said Mr Huhne. "Local residents should be aware of the threat".

Mr Huhne said that the Conservatives could not be trusted to protect green fields or stop overdevelopment as they were the prime movers in taking planning powers away from local authorities when they were in power.

"The last big green field development in the borough, at Dowds Farm, Hedge End, was first approved when both the county council and the borough were in Conservative control" said Mr Huhne. "The Tories cannot be trusted to protect our distinctive communities".